Prostate Cancer Test and Prostate Screening (Psa)

A prostate cancer test is best taken on a regular basis from the age of forty. A yearly test is generally enough due to the slow growing nature of Prostate cancer. By conducting check ups, the detection of the disease can be completed at a very early stage and needless to say, that the early stage detection might even give complete cure.

John Hopkins Oncology Scientists and researches have found out a method to measure prostate cancer at a very early stage: Prostate cancer triggers certain genetic changes. If the chemical process associated with genetic change is measured, detection of prostate cancer becomes a possibility even at a very early stage. Early stage detection ensures complete cure of the malaise.

U.S and U.K scientists are simultaneously developing a quick test for prostate cancer. It will take only three minutes to perform. They collect the sample of prostate fluid via a small needle inserted in the patient’s body under local anesthetic. This will be a landmark in testing of prostate cancer. Dr A Prasanna de Silva, chair of the organic chemistry at Queens University, Belfast, U.K said that the new test was “A convenient and quick method which provides early warning of prostate cancer which will bring relief to many men”.

By far, the most popular prostate cancer test, Prostate Specific Antigen test (PSA) is conduced throughout the world. PSA is a protein secreted by prostate gland and abnormally higher values indicate the presence of cancer forming cells. The PSA test is helpful for a Physician in measuring the PSA level in the patient’s blood. In conjunction with DRE-digital rectum examination, this test empowers the physician to measure the size of the prostate gland.

Maryland-based Pharmaceuticals Scientists have found that a protein-actually an enzyme called HAAH – might as well prove to be a biomarker. This means that this biomarker test is much more sensitive and specific for cancer detection, compared to all the present day testing. By means of this early detection, the prostate cancer recurrence can also be prevented.

By means of another simple test called DNA test, which pinpoints risk genes, the Scientists of the Swedish Medical University Karolinsk Institutet hope to predict occurrence of prostate cancer by identifying the risk genes in patients. If the risk genes are 4 to 5 times in excess, the onset of prostate cancer is a certainty. Even in the cases of partial cure setting in, the risk of prostate cancer recurrence is possible.

Now let us turn our attention to nanoparticles prostate cancer test. Golden nanoparticles are primarily mixed in a solution. Nanoparticles are directed to attach themselves to cancer producing proteins. When the patient’s blood drops are mixed in the nanoparticles solution. they seek out the protein. As nanoparticles cluster around proteins, the inference is the presence of prostate cancer. If there is no clustering, there is no evidence of cancer.

As for obesity and its effects on prostate cancer test – San Antonio’s Texas University Health Science Center has observed that in obese men the sensitivity of PSA testing is being blunted. Doctors conclude the more obese a man, the production of estrogen is more, the testosterone levels are pushed down , which could affect the antigen producing cells in the test.